23 March 2009

Breakfast, Bloody Breakfast

Current Mood: smitten

Out of the atmosphere, into the stratosphereOver the milky way, into the new frontierYou take me to a place I’ve never been beforeYou turn my everyday into the evermoreAll you do makes me feel alive~ “You, You, You” by All Star United

Every morning, I feed the three dogs on the back porch. Due to Ebie’s food guarding issues, I place each bowl at least 6 feet from the others so that everyone is happy. I always feed Ebie first, so she is busy with her bowl when I place the other two down. This has been a successful method for the past 3 months. Today, well, today, it appears that this method is no longer successful. As soon as I closed the sliding glass door, I heard low growling, then the heated growling that is accompanied by fighting and yelping.

By the time I made it back to the door, Romeo and Ebie were both fiercely attempting to get at a bowl of food. Usually, in a confrontation, Romeo backs off, letting Elizabeth have her way. He must have hit his limit of her bullying, because he was pissed and letting her know it. Elizabeth’s face was covered in blood. As soon as I called her name, she ran to me and Romeo looked at me with an apologetic expression.

Once inside, I grabbed a towel and attempted to see where the blood was coming from, rather fearful that her eye or face was torn open. She wanted NOTHING to do with me wiping her off. She kept backing away, tail between her legs. With persistence, I was able to determine that her face was fine; but her chin was bleeding from a small gash, most likely made when she pulled her head out of Romeo’s mouth. I had blood on my hands, was running late for work, and still needed to get her cleaned up.

Papa came downstairs and asked what happened. I explained and he used his stern voice to make Ebie stand still so he could clean up her chin and mouth. She was much calmer after he attended to her; most likely because she no longer sensed my panic. Once her chin stopped bleeding, I sent Elizabeth downstairs to her “Aunt Kabie” and left for work.

I truly hope she has learned her lesson with this little skirmish. She got off lucky – with no real injuries. Romeo finally stood up for himself, which is appropriate since he outweighs Ebie by at least 60 lbs. I will begin feeding her inside while the boys eat outside. This seems to be the safest route to take. When no food is involved; they all get along like best friends. Dogs are weird!

PERSONAL NOTE: Only 5 days and you will be here!!!! Woo hoo! I cannot wait!!!!